Seiko Watches Review: Timeless Japanese Excellence

Watch enthusiasts must have been familiar with Seiko. This Japanese brand has a legacy that spans over a century. To this day, Seiko watches remain one of the most sought-after time-telling devices on the market. While Seiko’s popularity cannot be denied, some new watch collectors may wonder about the quality.

Gnomon Watches takes this opportunity to answer all the curiosity about Seiko watches. From the most classic Seiko watches of all time to the modern releases that capture the world’s attention, this Seiko watch review provides comprehensive information about the giant Japanese watchmaker. Let’s dive into it!

Are Seiko Watches Good?

Generally, Seiko has a respectable position in the watchmaking industry. For over a century, the iconic Japanese brand has consistently innovated and stayed the course of the trend while remaining true to its identity. For those who may not know, Seiko means exquisite in Japan. It has become an accurate depiction of Seiko from time to time. In short, the brand's name lives up to expectations.

As one of the renowned pioneers in the watchmaking industry, Seiko has become synonymous with sturdy and dependable timepieces at affordable prices. Whether a chic dress watch or a robust diver watch, Seiko ensures every creation has its signature design.

Due to its consistency, Seiko has a loyal following in the watch community. Regular people who seek reliable watches mainly for functionality often pick Seiko as their go-to watch for everyday wear.

Even though Seiko is known for its affordable prices, the product’s quality remains top-notch. As a commercial watch brand, Seiko has an array of watches under different collections. These lines offer various price ranges and specific features catering to diverse characters of watch wearers.

Seiko at a Glance

Different types of Seiko watches bear iconic signatures to the significant collection. Some of the most renowned Seiko collections include Seiko 5 Sports, Seiko Presage, Seiko Prospex, King Seiko, and Grand Seiko. Each one offers unique characteristics that distinguish Seiko from watch brands in Swiss and other countries. Seiko watches’ characteristics can be elaborated in this manner:

1. Design

As a brand with a long history, Seiko boasts an extensive range of watch designs catering to every need. From the basic 24-hour time-telling to dual time zone features, Seiko watches offer what watch wearers think of when thinking about time. Encompassing the main time-telling features are the multiple models under different collections. For several decades, Seiko carefully manufactured every watch to individuals' styles.

Every design has various shapes and sizes, fitting for men, women, and both. Seiko watches are available in a wide array of options. For instance, male adventurers usually seek Seiko watches for men with specific features that help them navigate the wilderness, like Seiko 5 Sports, Seiko Turtle, and Seiko Tuna.

2. Durability

Among its wide array of selections, Seiko sets a high standard for its water resistance. It has become common knowledge within the watch enthusiast community that the Seiko 5 collection is best suited for outdoor activities. The watches have reliable water resistance making them capable of withstanding underwater atmospheric pressures.

For a more adventurous pursuit, the Seiko Prospex models may make more fitting accessories. Certain models have stricter water resistances with the highest measuring up to 300 m. Whichever Seiko model watch enthusiasts choose, every design is specifically crafted to endure demanding situations whether in land, water, or sky.

Read also: 7 Toughest, Most Durable Watches in 2024 

3. Movement

As an honorable brand in the watchmaking industry, Seiko powers up every one of its products with in-house movements. This doesn’t only apply to the luxury line, but also to the affordable timepieces. Some well-known Seiko movements include 8L35, 6R35, and 4R36 calibers. Compared to Swiss brands, Seiko achieves a big feat by implementing the same technical expertise in every tier of its watch collection.

However, not every Seiko watch has an automatic movement. There are several types of movements the brand offers. Here are some of the most common ones:

• Automatic: Self-winding, wound by the wrist’s motion. Due to this mechanism, the need for manual winding can be put aside. It’s ideal for everyday watch wearers.
• Quartz: Known for its incredible accuracy, quartz allows the watch to stay on track without relying on manual winding or self-winding. Harnessing the power of a battery, this type of movement needs regular battery changes. It fits watch wearers who are on a budget but value precise timekeeping. 
• Solar: A movement that utilizes natural and artificial light to power up watches. It uses reliable lithium-ion batteries that ensure uninterrupted timekeeping even in darkness.
• Spring Drive: Most accurate movement on the market. The movement combines the best of both worlds; the mechanical watch’s precision and the quartz crystal’s accuracy powered by a spring.

4. Price

As mentioned before, a wide range of selections under the Seiko brand offers outstanding value. From the affordable Seiko 5 which offers timepieces under $100 to the high-tier Prospex and Presage collections with their impressive craftsmanship, these price ranges allow Seiko to continue expanding its market while preserving its exceptional watchmaking techniques in the fast-evolving industry.

Notable Seiko Watches Review

It would be a waste not to delve into each Seiko watch review after scanning through the brand’s layers of characteristics as seen through a general lens. Gnomon Watches compiles a list of notable Seiko products and presents a comprehensive review as a reference to help you decide the best watch to buy. Seek your choice below:

1. Seiko Prospex 200M Automatic Turtle The Black Series

Under the Seiko Turtle category, the Seiko Prospex 200M Automatic Turtle The Black Series offers a retro 60s look. This style is emphasized by the “Turtle” cushion shape, the straight and sharp case bands, and the circular brushed surfaces on top. Its crown is located at 4 o’clock, a signature Seiko style.

The all-black case exudes a clean and seamless look. Combined with the screw-down crown and a screwed case back, the watch has a reassuring 200 m water resistance. For added functionality, the Turtle watch is equipped with a unidirectional rotating bezel. With the angular and distinct bezel grooves, it can rotate smoothly into 120 positions.

Seiko’s automatic caliber, 4R36, powers up this diver watch. It operates at 21,600 BPH which also features hacking and winding capabilities. With a power reserve of 40 hours, the classic Seiko watch can safely accompany sports enthusiasts through the most exciting journey in the vast natural landscape.

Price: $903.00 USD

2. Seiko “King Seiko KSK” Mechanical

Nondistorted cases, simple bezels, and flat hands mark the distinct characteristics of King Seiko. All these traits can be seen in the Seiko “King Seiko KSK” Mechanical. The pristine watch has a 38.6 mm angular and sharp case. With a height of 10.7 mm, the timepiece still appears well-proportioned, even around big wrists.

Powering up the stunning Seiko luxury watch is the in-house caliber 6L35. It operates at 28,800 BPH with an accuracy of +15/-10 seconds per day. Much like the 1965 model, the retro stainless steel multi-link bracelet pairs with the stylish and simplistic case. A picturesque view of a sleek modern Seiko watch.

Price: $3,282.00 USD

3. Seiko Prospex LX Landmaster Blackout

According to Seiko, LX means light. Designed by Mr. Ken Okuyama, the Seiko Prospex LX Landmaster Blackout carries harmony, simplicity, power, and presence in a contemporary design. It brings back the 1960s professional diver watch design and the 1990s tool watches. However, Seiko applies a blackout makeover, allowing the watch to showcase a sleek, all-black appearance.

The titanium case makes the watch a lightweight accessory. True to the blackout style, the case and the bezel are in black. With a diameter of 44.8 and a thickness of 14.7 mm, the sleek diver watch is comfortable to wear on every occasion, especially during underwater activities.

As one of the reliable watches in Seiko’s sports line, the all-black watch is completed with a black leather strap. The design maintains the stylishness without overshadowing the sleekness of the titanium case. To ensure optimal accuracy, the Seiko Prospex LX Landmaster Blackout employs a spring drive GMT movement featuring a power reserve of 72 hours.

Price: $4,980.00 USD

Read also: Vintage Seiko Watch: The Glorious Past with a Modern Interpretation 

4. Seiko Prospex Professional 1000M Tuna

Seiko’s diver watch collection doesn’t only get a boost from the Turtle design but also the Tuna. Led by Ikuo Tukonaga, the Seiko watchmakers aspired to craft the ultimate dive watch. In 1975, Grandfather Tuna was born. Today, the iconic aesthetic is carried out by the Seiko Tuna line, one of its products being the Seiko Prospex Professional 1000M Tuna.

Constructed at a 49.4 mm diameter and a 16.3 mm thickness, the diver watch with the astounding ISO-certified 1,000 m water resistance presents itself in a lightweight titanium case. To improve durability, the watchmaker adds a black super-hard coating. Employing the monobloc or one-piece construction, the sleek black Tuna watch has no case back.

Beyond the unique design, the shroud, or outer case, protects the 120-click diving bezel. It prevents the bezel from unintentional rotation and potential shock to the case during underwater operations. The shroud is made of hardened ceramic and treated with Seiko’s Super Black Dia-Shield coating to protect the watch from scratches.

Price: $2,798.00 USD

5. Seiko Prospex Mechanical Divers 1968 Heritage GMT Shohei Ohtani

For those looking for a GMT diver watch, the Seiko Prospex Mechanical Divers 1968 Heritage GMT Shohei Ohtani may be the right piece to grab. This collaboration with the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani presents the limited-edition timepiece that boasts Seiko dive watch heritage.

It has the classic case of the MM300 with angular shapes, solid shoulders, a wide bezel, strong lines surrounding the case, and a signature Seiko crown at 4 o’clock. With a case in a 42 mm diameter and shorter lugs, the watch has improved ergonomics and wearability. A 12.9 mm slim profile and lug-to-lug of 48.6 mm make the overall design more impressive, given the GMT functionality. 

At the screw-down crown, the iconic 17 is engraved, marking Ohtani’s undeniable presence in this limited piece of Seiko’s heritage. Along with the screw-down case back, the Diver GMT watch boasts a 200 m water resistance. The zirconia ceramic bezel insert is painted in the iconic Dodger Blue color while paired with the 120-click unidirectional diving bezel.

Underneath the magnificent exterior, Shohei Ohtani’s special edition watch is powered by the 6R54 movement. It has a 72-hour power reserve, which operates at 21,600 BPH. At the screw-down case back, the “SHOHEI OHTANI LIMITED EDITION” engraving can be seen along with the unique serial number, effectively implying the timepiece’s exclusivity.

Price: $2,917.00 USD

6. Seiko Presage Craftsmanship Arita Porcelain

Aesthetically pleasing, the Seiko Presage Craftsmanship Arita Porcelain offers a magnificent look at the porcelain case. With a diameter of 40.6 mm, a thickness of 12.5 mm, and a lug-to-lug measurement of 49.1 mm, the stunning watch is wearable on every occasion. Its elegance is completed by the 20 mm multi-link bracelet featuring Seiko’s deployant clasp technology.

Beyond the captivating facade, the 6R5H caliber with 21,600 BPH and a power reserve of 72 hours powers the watch. Though seemingly luxurious and expensive, the Seiko Presage Craftsmanship Arita Porcelain has a reasonable price. Dress watch enthusiasts can consider adding the porcelain watch to the collection for its authentic display of Japanese craftsmanship.

Price: $2,115.00 USD

Final Thoughts

A Seiko watch review is not a new thing to talk about in the watch enthusiast circle. In fact, it’s something to be expected with every new release. Throughout the years of crafting iconic timepieces, Seiko has managed to carve distinctive identities across its collections. Whether in the forms of heritage or collaborative pieces, Seiko watches consistently maintain quality while retaining traditional Japanese watchmaking values.

Every Seiko watch captures the essence of the brand’s unique character. While affordability has always been at the forefront of Seiko’s brand image, the product’s quality should never be undermined. With every human’s need for precise timekeeping and style, Seiko aspires to craft reliable watches through constant innovation. As Seiko keeps releasing new watches, each review becomes a reference to share from one watch enthusiast to another.

Read also: History of Seiko and Marine Master Family Watch Review